Apparatus for distributing concrete mix

ABSTRACT

Improved apparatus for distributing concrete mix above ground level in a multilevel construction project includes a boom and a conveyor frame, each pivotally secured on a rotatable base at the level at which concrete mix is to be distributed, with the free end of the conveyor frame being suspended from the boom. The system preferably further comprises a concrete pump provided above ground level, with hose means being provided for conveying concrete mix from the concrete pump to various positions at levels above the ground level as well.

United States Patent Gilbert Hay, Jr.

Wauconda, 111.;

Hans K. Bell, Cincinnati, Ohio 772,5 14

Nov. 1, 1968 June 1, 1971 Hi-Dyne, lnc.

Des Plaines, lll.

lnventors Appl. No Filed Patented Assignee APPARATUS FOR DISTRIBUTING CONCRETE MIX 7 Claims, 4 Drawing Figs.

US. Cl. 214/89,

Int. Cl. B66b 17/00 Field of Search 214/89, 95

A, 59 A, 15, 14199 A; 198]] 19, 121-126: mlfi'nqhi'r'i [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,285,717 11/1918 Rasmussen et al 214/95A 1,909,379 5/1933 Sangers 214/9SA 2,099,071 11/1937 Lundbye 198/119X 2,576,991 12/1951 Bainbridge et a1 198/124 1,208,964 12/1916 Hodges 214/95(A)X Primary Examiner-Albert J. Makay ABSTRACT: lmproved apparatus for distributing concrete mix above ground level in a multilevel construction project includes a boom and a conveyor frame, each pivotally secured on a rotatable base at the level at which concrete mix is to be distributed, with the free end of the conveyor frame being suspended from the boom. The system preferably further comprises a concrete pump provided above ground level, with hose means being provided for conveying concrete mix from the concrete pump to various positions at levels above the ground level as well.

PATE'NTEU Jun Hen 3581.913

SHEET 1 BF 2 m I //Vl ENT0/?$. N GILBERT HA), JR. D M HANS K.BE'LL M W I HELL PATENTEDJUN nan 3581.913

' SHEET 2 0r 2 INVENTORS. GILBERT HAK JR. HANS KBEL APPARATUS FOR DISTRIBUTING CONCRETE MIX BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION l. Field of the Invention This invention relates to the construction arts and more particularly to apparatus for distributing concrete mix at levels above ground level in a multilevel construction project.

2. Description of the Prior Art In multilevel construction projects, several approaches have been employed to raise concrete mix to levels above the ground level in a multilevel building project and to distribute the concrete mix after it is raised to the desired level. One approach is to transport concrete mix upwardly to the upper levels by means of a slow-moving hoist, and to distribute it there manually by means of wheelbarrows or the like. An alternative version, useful at relatively low levels of up to about I50 or 200 feet, has employed a concrete pump provided on ground level with a hose connection extending to upper levels. An obvious limitation of this approach is that it can only be used for relatively low heights and is not feasible for use in high-rise building projects.

Yet another approach is to suspend a large hopper from a crane and to lift concrete mix from ground level up to the raised level in the hopper, from which it is released directly at the point to be distributed.

All of the foregoing arrangements are relatively unsatisfactory in terms of economy and convenience of operation, and, accordingly, a primary object of the present invention is to provide an improved system for distributing concrete mix at the upper levels of a multilevel building project.

A further object is to provide a system of the character described employing a movable conveyor suspended from a boom at the upper level of the building project.

A still further object is to provide a system employing a concrete pump and hose at the upper levels of a multilevel building project.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The foregoing and other objects, advantages, and features of the subject invention can be achieved with apparatus for distributing concrete mix comprising: a support tower; a base rotatably mounted on the support tower for movement about a vertical axis; a boom pivotally mounted at one of its ends on the base; a conveyor frame having a motor-driven conveyor belt provided thereon, the said conveyor frame being pivotally mounted at one of its ends on the base; a load cable removably secured to the conveyor frame and passing over the other end of the boom; a boom cable secured to the said other end of the boom; and cable control means for selectively playing in and playing out the boom cable and the load cable, whereby to control the position of the boom and the conveyor frame.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. I is a partially schematic side elevational view of a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken through a concrete mix diverting apparatus;

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the arrangement shown in FIG. 2; and

FIG. 4 is an enlarged sectional view taken substantially along line 44 in FIG. I.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS With reference to the drawings, an apparatus for distributing concrete mix is shown positioned adjacent the site of a building construction project 12. Project 12, only part of which is schematically shown in the drawings, comprises a se ries of levels 14, 16, 18, and shown in the drawings. Levels 14, 16, 18, and 20 ordinarily comprise horizontally disposed framework of metal beams. For convenience, the vertical beams or columns disposed between adjacent levels are not shown.

The sequence customarily followed in the construction of a multilevel structure embodies as a first stage the erection of a metal frame construction, and, after the metal frame construction is in place, wooden planking is ordinarily temporarily positioned so as to provide a flooring. On the floors immediately below the planked floor level the forms are positioned for the pouring of concrete mix, and once the forming is in position, concrete mix may be poured. Thus, concrete mix is ordinarily poured into place several levels beneath the uppermost level at which the metal framing is done. Alternatively, a concrete floor may be poured at the top as soon as the metal framework is completed. Thus, depending upon the given plan for erection of the building, it would be desirable either to provide apparatus for distributing concrete mix at several levels (say four or five levels) below the topmost part of the project, or, alternatively, to provide means for distributing concrete mix at the topmost level itself. Occasionally, both means are desirable in a given project as, for example, where a preliminary pour is effected at the topmost level and a final second pour is provided several levels below the topmost level. The apparatus for distributing concrete mix provided in accordance with the present invention is capable of meeting all of the foregoing demands for apparatus for distributing concrete mix at the upper levels of a multilevel concrete mix project.

Broadly described, the apparatus of the present invention consists of a hoist system 30, generally provided in the form of a vertical tower formed by a truss framework 32 (shown schematically in the drawings), with a hoist cage 34 being slidably disposed within tower 32 by means of vertical rails (not shown) via a cable (not shown). A high-speed hoist of this type is described in greater detail in applicants copending US. Pat. application, HOIST AND METHOD OF OPERAT- ING SAME, Ser. No. 766,270, filed Oct. 9, 1968. A bucket 36 is pivotally disposed in cage 34 about a pivot point 38 so that when hoist cage 34 is raised to a position such as that shown in the drawings, bucket 36 may be pivoted so as to discharge an increment of concrete mix carried upwardly in the hoist.

The apparatus for distributing concrete mix provided at the upper levels of the building project by means such as hoist assembly 30 comprises a trussed support tower 40 on which is provided a mounting base taking the form of a cone 42 rotatably mounted on tower 40 by means of a slew bearing 44. A projecting boom 46 is pivotally mounted on cone 42 by means of a horizontal pivot pin 48, and a conveyor frame 50, comprising trussed side members held in place by interconnected transverse members, is likewise pivotally mounted on cone 42 by means of a pivot pin 52. Thus, conveyor frame 50 and boom 46 may be pivoted in a vertical direction about pivot pins 52, 48.

The projecting end of conveyor frame 50 is suspended by means of a cradle 54, formed of cable or the like and cradle 54 is attached by a link 56 to the lower end of a block and tackle 62 through which a load line 64 is passed. By means of a pair of sheaves 68, 70, load line 64 passes to a sheave 72 where it in turn is directed to a motor-driven cable drum. Alternatively, the cable may be passed downwardly to a iower level where it may be controlled by a hoist controller assembly as disclosed in the aforementioned pending patent application of applicants.

A boom line is linked to the outer end of projecting boom 46 and, via another block and tackle 82, boom line 80 passes to a second selectively driven cable drum. By varying the length of boom line 80, the angular disposition of boom 46 may be varied, and, likewise, the position of conveyor frame 50 may also be controlled. Boom 46 and frame 50 are removably mounted on cone 42 for reasons that will hereinafter appear.

As previously noted, cone 42 is pivotable with respect to support tower 40, and a slew drive is provided to effect a power rotation of cone 42. As a result, by operation of boom line 80, load line 62, and drive 90, the position of the projecting end of conveyor frame 50 can be varied as desired, and a relatively large portion of the floor level 20 can be covered by the arc of movement of conveyor frame 50.

In order to divert concrete mix from a motor-driven conveyor belt movably provided on frame 50, a movable diverting apparatus 92 is provided, and apparatus 92 is designed to move from one end of frame 50 to the other. Diverting apparatus 92 preferably takes the form of a carriage movably mounted on frame 50 and comprising a diverting blade which scrapes along the upper train of the conveyor belt and diverts concrete mix from the side thereof. The structure of frame 50, with the conveyor belt it carries, and of diverting apparatus 92, is conventional, but the use thereof in the manner described herein at levels above ground level in a multilevel building project forms a prime feature of the present invention. Suitable structure for a frame such as frame 50 and an apparatus such as apparatus 92 is described in greater detail hereinafter in connection with FlGS. 2 and 3.

Means are provided for supplying concrete mix to the conveyor belt carried on frame 50, and such means takes the form of a chute 100 which preferably passes through cone 42 and has an end disposed directly over a receiving end of the conveyor belt. The upper end of chute 100 is disposed beneath a hopper 102 designed to receive concrete mix from bucket 36 in hoist cage 34 when it is disposed at an upper position. Thus, concrete mix is delivered to the upper levels of the building project by the hoist cage 34 and is dumped into hopper 102 where it passes into chute 100 and onto conveyor frame 50 for distribution.

One form of conveyor assembly 120 is shown in detail in FIGS. 2 and 3. However, the arrangement shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 is merely exemplary of the conventional traveling plows and conveyors which may be used in accordance with the present invention.

A pair of longitudinally disposed rails 122 are provided, and each rail has a pair of horizontal flanges 124, 126. A lower idler roller 128 is provided on a shaft 130 which is journaled for rotation in a bearing block 132 mounted on the lower portion of each rail 122. A pair of upper idler roller mounting brackets 134 are provided on the top of flanges 124, and a shaft 136 is disposed between brackets 134. The three upper idler rollers 138, 140, 142 are rotatably journaled on the respective portions of shaft 136. A conveyor belt 144 is mounted on upper idler rollers 138, 140, and 142 and on lower idler roller 128, and a suitable drive roller is provided at one end of the conveyor, with a main idler roller being provided at the discharge far end of the conveyor.

A traveling plow assembly 150 is mounted on the conveyor assembly 120. As best shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, plow assembly 150 comprises a generally rectangular frame formed by a pair of transverse members 152 and a pair of longitudinal members 154, and with a diverter blade 156 being provided diagonally between opposite corners of the rectangular frame. As best shown in FIG. 2, the lower surface of blade 156 is curved to correspond substantially identically to the configuration of the upper train of conveyor belt 144 as it passes over the upper idler rollers. At each corner of the rectangular frame a laterally projecting rod 158 is provided, and at the end of rod 158 a downwardly projecting post 160 is provided. An inwardly facing bearing 162 is provided near the bottom of each post 160 and a shaft 164 is journaled in bearing 162. A roller 166 is provided on the end of each shaft 164, and each roller is movably received within the track formed by flanges 124, 126 on side rails 122.

Thus, traveling plow assembly 150 may be rolled along the conveyor assembly 120 and concrete mix carried by the belt 144 is diverted to the side by the diverting blade 156. A suitable chute or boot" (not shown) may be provided at the side adjacent the discharge end of the diverting blade so as to provide for controlled distribution of concrete mix over the side of the conveyor assembly 120. Furthermore, drive means (not shown) may be provided for driving the diverting assembly 150 with reference to the conveyor assembly 120. As previously noted, the conveyor assembly and diverter assembly shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 are not per se new and substantially any of the known diverter assemblies and conveyors may be employed in accordance with the overall system of the present invention.

An auxiliary arrangement for distributing concrete mix at levels beneath the uppermost level is also provided in accordance with the preferred practice of the present invention. A concrete pump is positioned near the base of support tower 40, and a plurality of lengths of hose 112, suspended by means of a supporting bracket 114 from the beam structure 16 of the next higher level, are attached to pump 110 and are used to distribute concrete mix over the floor level 14. As various areas have been covered, respective lengths 112 may be removed as the laborers work back towards the source of the concrete mix. The system of the present invention differs from that of the prior art in that concrete mix is raised to the level of the floor by the hoist assembly and only then is distributed via the pump. In order to provide concrete mix to the pump, a hopper 114 is positioned directly above pump 110, and when bucket 36 pivots about pivot point 38 as shown by the broken line positions in FIG. I, concrete mix may be discharged into hopper 114. As a result, concrete mix can be quickly and efficiently distributed a levels beneath the upper level of the structure.

The support tower 40 (formed by interconnected trussed rods and beams) is temporarily tied into the floors of the building so that substantially half of the support supplied by tower 40 for the cone, boom, and conveyor frame is provided by the building structure itself. Tower 40 is also tied into truss framework 32 of the hoist assembly, with the framework 32 providing the remaining support for tower 40.

As levels are added to the building site, the supporting tower 40 is raised so as to maintain the conveyor and concrete pump at appropriate work levels. The raising of the tower may be briefly described as follows. By appropriate manipulation of the boom line 80 and load line 62, the conveyor frame 50 is suspended while its pivot pin 52 is removed, and then the frame 50 is lowered and temporarily placed on the top floor 20. Then, boom 46 is lowered, its pivot pin 48 removed, and it is temporarily positioned on floor 20. Then, via a small crane 170 (shown schematically in the drawings), a cable is attached to the upper end of cone 42 and the entire combination of cone 42 and tower 40 is pulled upwardly in singleor multiplefloor increments until it is maintained in the desired position, at which point it is again tied in (as by bolting or the like) to the building project itself. The temporary crane 170 is then used to remount the boom 46 and conveyor frame 50. Crane 170 may similarly be employed to add additional incremental units to the tower of hoist system 30.

By using the concrete mix distribution arrangement of the present invention, concrete mix may be delivered and distributed at the upper levels of multilevel building projects more efficiently and conveniently than heretofore has been possible. While the system of the present invention has been particularly disclosed with reference to high-rise building projects, the arrangement of the present invention can equally well be employed at and in the constructit .1 of power plants, dams, reservoirs, and the like. In construction sites where it is not convenient to tie in the support tower 40 to a building structure, the tower can be tied into an auxiliary temporary tower constructed for such purpose.

We claim:

1. Apparatus for distributing concrete mix at the upper levels of a multilevel construction project comprising:

A support tower removably secured to and receiving a substantial portion of its support from the construction project;

A base rotatably mounted on the support tower for pivotal movement about a vertical axis;

a boom pivotally mounted at one of its ends on the base;

a conveyor frame having a motor-driven conveyor belt provided thereon, the said conveyor frame being pivotally mounted at one ofits ends on the base;

a load cable removably secured to the conveyor frame and passing over the other end of the boom;

a boom cable secured to the other end of the boom; and

cable control means for selectively playing in and playing out the boom cable and the load cable,

whereby to control the position of the boom and the conveyor frame.

2. Apparatus of claim 1 with the addition of a traveling plow diverter assembly mounted on the conveyor frame and adapted to divert concrete mix carried by the conveyor belt laterally therefrom.

3. Apparatus of claim 1 with the addition of a hoist system including a hoist tower adjacent the construction project, the support tower removably secured to and receiving its remaining support from the hoist tower.

4. Apparatus of claim 1 with the addition of a hopper mounted on the base and having a discharge end in effective relation with the conveyor belt of the conveyor frame.

5. Apparatus for distributing concrete mix at the upper levels of a multilevel construction project comprising: a support tower; a base rotatably mounted on the support tower for pivotal movement about a vertical axis;

a boom pivotally and removably mounted at one of its ends on the base;

a conveyor frame having a motor-driven conveyor belt provided thereon, the said conveyor frame being pivotally and removably mounted at one of its ends on the base;

a load cable removably secured to the conveyor frame and passing over the other end of the boom;

a boom cable secured to the other end of the boom; and

cable control means for selectively playing in and playing out the boom cable and the load cable for controlling the positions of the boom and the conveyor frame,

whereby the boom and conveyor frame may be removed from the base for repositioning the support tower at a particular level relative to said construction project.

6. Apparatus of claim 5 wherein the support tower is removably secured to and receives a substantial portion of its support from the construction project.

7. apparatus of claim 6 with the addition of a hoist system including a hoist tower adjacent the construction project, the support tower removably secured to and receiving its remaining support from the hoist tower. 

1. Apparatus for distributing concrete mix at the upper levels of a multilevel construction project comprising: A support tower removably secured to and receiving a substantial portion of its support from the construction project; A base rotatably mounted on the support tower for pivotal movement about a vertical axis; a boom pivotally mounted at one of its ends on the base; a conveyor frame having a motor-driven conveyor belt provided thereon, the said conveyor frame being pivotally mounted at one of its ends on the base; a load cable removably secured to the conveyor frame and passing over the other end of the boom; a boom cable secured to the other end of the boom; and cable control means for selectively playing in and playing out the boom cable and the load cable, whereby to control the position of the boom and the conveyor frame.
 2. Apparatus of claim 1 with the addition of a traveling plow diverter assembly mounted on the conveyor frame and adapted to divert concrete mix carried by the conveyor belt laterally therefrom.
 3. Apparatus of claim 1 with the addition of a hoist system including a hoist tower adjacent the construction project, the support tower removably secured to and receiving its remaining support from the hoist tower.
 4. Apparatus of claim 1 with the addition of a hopper mounted on the base and having a discharge end in effective relation with the conveyor belt of the conveyor frame.
 5. Apparatus for distributing concrete mix at the upper levels of a multilevel construction project comprising: a support tower; a base rotatably mounted on the support tower for pivotal movement about a vertical axis; a boom pivotally and removably mounted at one of its ends on the base; a conveyor frame having a motor-driven conveyor belt provided thereon, the said conveyor frame being pivotally and removably mounted at one of its ends on the base; a load cable removably secured to the conveyor frame and passing over the other end of the boom; a boom cable secured to the other end of the boom; and cable control means for selectively playing in and playing out the boom cable and the load cable for controlling the positions of the boom and the conveyor frame, whereby the boom and conveyor frame may be removed from the base for repositioning the support tower at a particular level relative to said construction project.
 6. Apparatus of claim 5 wherein the support tower is removably secured to and receives a substantial portion of its support from the construction project.
 7. apparatus of claim 6 with the addition of a hoist system including a hoist tower adjacent the construction project, the support tower removably secured to and receiving its remaining support from the hoist tower. 